Giovanni Gronchi

Giovanni Gronchi (10 September 1887-17 October 1978) was President of Italy from 11 May 1955 to 11 May 1962, succeeding Luigi Einaudi and preceding Antonio Segni. He was a member of the Christian Democracy, and he was known for attempting an "opening to the left" in Italian politics.

Biography
Giovanni Gronchi was born in Pontedera, Tuscany in 1887, and he served in World War I before founding the Popolari and becoming a member of Parliament. A member of Benito Mussolini's first government, he resigned in protest over the Giacomo Matteotti murder and led his party into the Aventine Secession. In 1943 he helped found Christian Democracy and became one of their representatives in the National Liberation Committee. On the left wing of the party, he was Minister for Industry and Trade from 1944 to 1946, and in 1948 was elected President of the Chamber of Deputies. He was a widely respected Italian president, and continued to exert considerable influence after his retirement.